MOSCOW. Jan 28 (Interfax-AVN) - Russian Foreign Minister Igor Ivanov said that "an explosive situation on the Korean Peninsula - right near Russia's Far Eastern borders - remains a subject for Russia's increased attention."
In an article entitled, "Russia in Asia and Asia in Russia," published in the January issue of Asia and Africa Today magazine, Ivanov notes that "what meets Russian interests is: the peninsula's de-nuclearized status, its preservation in the nonproliferation sphere, and the development of peaceful cooperation in Northeast Asia with our direct involvement."
"We attach particular significance to negotiations on this issue with Russia's participation and expect that they will eventually lead to the establishment of a reliable security system in the region," he said.
"The military-political situation in South Asia also remains under Moscow's monitoring," Ivanov said.
"Russia has welcomed initiatives by the Indian prime minister aimed at improving relations with Pakistan. We hope the parties will continue efficiently pursuing a set of measures to curb trans-border terrorism, which has become the main reason for serious tensions between these states," Ivanov said.
Touching on the situation in Afghanistan, Ivanov said, "It is too early to say that a final blow has been dealt to terrorism in Afghanistan."
He also pointed to the fact that "the production of Afghan drugs is continuing and even increasing, which poses a direct threat to Russia."
"It is necessary for the international community to continue energetic joint efforts towards normalizing the situation in Afghanistan, because weakening these efforts will inevitably lead to a revival of the Taliban danger," Ivanov said.